Combined, the world’s air forces operate in excess of 50,000 aircraft, with that number changing little year on year. Nevertheless, the World Air Forces Directory has tracked and detailed some 52,642 aircraft from 161 nations in its report for 2025.
From 2024 to 2025, the world’s airborne military fleet contracted by 1.53%, representing a net loss of 759 aircraft. The biggest reductions were seen in Pakistan (-6.62%) and India (-2.92%). A minor growth of around one percentage point was seen in Turkey, Egypt, and South Korea.
As expected, the USA remains by far the largest air force in the world, with over 13,000 active aircraft in its fleet. The next largest is Russia, with 4,292 aircraft in total, followed by China with 3,309. Rounding off the top five are India with 2,229 and South Korea with 1,592.
We take a look at the top 5 biggest air forces in the world one by one, including how their fleets are made up. The ranking is based on the combined fleets of all military branches in each nation as published in the 2025 World Air Forces Directory, compiled by FlightGlobal using data from Cirium
The world’s largest air force: The USA
The US has operated the largest fleet of military aircraft for some years now spread across the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines. Although the fleet is 1.26% smaller than last year, representing a decrease of 166 aircraft, the fleet remains three times the size of the next largest, Russia.
The US Air Force (USAF) said in 2023 it wanted to retire as many as 310 aircraft in 2024, according to Defense News. These included the iconic A-10 Warthog, which is intended to be phased out entirely by 2029, as well as a number of older F-15s.
According to the 2025 World Air Forces directory, the USAF will enter the new year with 234 A-10s still in its fleet, although several bases are well into phasing out the fleet. Through 2025, the Air Force has requested approval to retire another 56 A-10s, alongside almost 200 other aircraft including 65 F-15C/Ds, 32 F-22s, and 16 KC-135s.
The US continues to operate an immense fleet of combat helicopters. Almost half of its entire fleet is made up of these, and 27% of the world’s entire supply of combat helicopters fly for the US. Even more prolific, however, is its massive fleet of over 600 tankers, which includes a staggering 460 KC-130s, progressively being replaced by the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.
The second biggest air force is in Russia
Russia’s air fleet has increased by 37 aircraft in 2024, a growth of 0.87%. Like the US, the bulk of its flying force is concentrated on combat helicopters and aircraft, although it also has a sizeable transport fleet.
In terms of combat aircraft, some of the more prominent fleets include the MiG-29/35, the Su-27/30/35, and the Su-34. Its transport fleet boasts an extensive collection of Antonovs and Ilyushins, including 130 Il-76 high-wing quadjets, although there have been numerous reports of these aircraft being shot down in the Ukraine conflict.
Russia’s sizeable combat helicopter fleet is dominated by the Mil Mi-8, the world’s most produced helicopter with more than 17,000 in use in over 50 nations. When combined with the closely related Mi-17 and Mi-171, Russia’s fleet of this type extends to almost 800 aircraft, with more on the way.
China has a huge air force of more than 3,000 aircraft
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in China has 3,309 aircraft in its fleet, according to the 2025 World Air Forces directory. It has grown by a net of only five aircraft over the course of 2024.
Its sizeable fleet of over 1,500 combat aircraft is dominated by Chinese-made Chengdu J-7, J-10, and Shenyang J-11 fighters, the J-11 being derived from the successful Soviet-designed Sukhoi Su-27. However, the PLA doesn’t have a huge number of tankers to support these, flying only three Il-78 tankers and seven Xi’an YY-20 (although Janes argues that it’s at least eight, possibly more.
It’s fleet of transporters are mainly Chinese-made, with Y7, Y-8 and Y-9s providing a backbone. Its combat helicopter fleet is being expanded with new arrivals of the Z-10 and Z-19, and like its ally Russia, it has a fair number of Mi-8/17/171 as well.
India’s air force shrank by 3% but remains the 4th largest in the world
The Indian Armed Forces fleet of aircraft has shrunk by a net of 61 in 2024, leading to a contraction of almost 3%. Although the fleet is fairly well-balanced, it is again dominated by combat aircraft and helicopters.
The combat aircraft fleet is dominated by 265 Su-30s and 130 Jaguar M/S, although its fleet of Tejas is growing, and currently stands at 31. The controversial MiG-21 is still in the fleet, although only 36 remain. The MiG-21 has killed 200 pilots and 60 civilians in at least 400 accidents during the 60 years of service in India’s military, and is being retired from service. The nation is expected to sign for 26 Rafale Marine jets in 2025.
India began taking delivery of the first of its C295 transport aircraft in September 2023, and now has six in its fleet, with a further 50 on the way. Complementing these are dozens of Dornier 228s, Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, and Antonov An-32s.
Growing slowly as the 5th largest air force: South Korea
Over 2024, South Korea added 16 aircraft, growing its fleet by a moderate 1.03%. Over the course of 2024, its last McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms left the fleet, with the nation holding a decommissioning ceremony to celebrate the end of more than 50 years of service by the type.
With no more F-4s, the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) is reliant on its fleet of F-5Es, F-15s, F-16s, and FA-50s for combat capabilities. It’s taking delivery of the F-35, with 38 in the fleet already and 19 more to arrive. Also incoming is the KAI KF-21 Boramae, its homegrown multirole fighter, which is anticipated to enter service in 2026.
South Korea has almost twice as many combat helicopters as combat aircraft, a fleet dominated by the MD500 and Surion KUH-1. A year ago, South Korea became the first Asian customer of Embraer’s C-390, although the number ordered remains confidential. The 2025 World Air Forces directory lists three incoming for the RoKAF.
Last month, the US State Department approved a foreign military sale to South Korea for the E-7 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C). According to Airforce Technology, South Korea has requested four of the platforms alongside related equipment, which GlobalData analyst Harpreet Sidhu says will “add greater flexibility and resilience to its overall defense strategy by overcoming complex terrain-related challenges associated with land radars.”
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